Ope the doors to a piece of history. Picture: AFP/Guillaume SouvantSource:AFP

CROWD-FUNDING has officially been taken to a new level, with more than 9000 strangers banding together to save a French castle.

It took just 40 days for the necessary €500,000 to be raised to save the castle known as Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers in the west of the country.

The castle was built in the early 13th century by the Baucay family, survived several takeovers by the English, was ransacked during the french revolution, and more recently a devastating fire in 1932.

Aerial view. Picture: AFP/Guillaume SouvantSource:AFP

Now it belongs to thousands of owners, who each contributed a minimum €50 and are hoping to restore the ruined building.